Some will wear red shoelaces (like the ones I received but gave to my mom and to my editor's 8-year-old son) to symbolize heart health. Others will wear flip flops (not the best idea for foot health, but what the heck). Maybe office groups will hold walking meetings, as suggested on the National Walking Day page.

It's a grand idea, especially on a day like today -- humid but not in a drenched-armpits-summer kind of way. Breezy but not in a knock-you-to-the-ground kind of way.

I could talk about the benefits here, how walking can help fight coronary artery diseaseand do all kinds of other good things for your body. But I'd rather talk about what it does for your spirit, your soul, your psyche...which, in turn, can't help but benefit the physical part of you, too.

When you walk, you breathe deeply. You feel in control. You see houses you'd never noticed, flowers with colors you'd swear came from a Crayolabox. You smile at strangers even before they smile at you. You squint at the sun or ogle the moon. You get a catch in your throat because the clouds are so beautiful, or the sunset -- no matter how many times you've seen one -- so golden, and way too fast.

Maybe you listen to music or NPR. Or maybe you let the sounds of dogs barking or children laughing or bikes being pedaled or sprinklers turning on be your soundtrack.

Come tomorrow, even though it's not National Walking Day any more, you think back on those precious few minutes you spent outdoors and how you felt. And you think, ya' know, I think I may just do that again.